Merchandise-exhibitor.



No. 652,629. Patented June 26, I900. A. T. PEFFEB.

"MERCHANDISE axmanon.

(Application filed Jan. 28, 1899. Renewed Dec. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ANTON T. PEFFER, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

MERCHANDISE-EXHIBITOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 652,629, dated June 26, 1900.

Application filed January 28, 1899. Renewed December 19, 1899. Serial No. 740,926. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it rmty concern:

Be it known that I, ANTON T. PEFFER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Cloud, Stearns county, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merchandise-Exhibitors; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with a claim particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to display-racks, and more especially to that class of devices thereunder known as merchandise-eXhibitors for supporting strings and the like; and the object of the same is more especially to produce an improved device for sustaining shoestrings on exhibition.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details of construction hereinafter more fullydescribed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in use, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device with the strings removed.

This device comprises asingle piece of wire, more or less resilient and bent into shape, as illustrated in the accompanying drawingsthat is to say, the wire commences at the point 1, makes an eye 2 and asecond eye 3 in the form of a horizontal figure 8, then extends downwardly and twists throughout the body4 of the rack, then curves forwardly, as at 5, through the bottom of such rack and upwardly, as at 6, through its front, the parts 5 and 6 forming a supporting-hook, and finally projects forward in an approximatelyhorizontal direction, as at 7. Bending back upon itself the wire returns alongside of and parallel to the parts just described to form a loop 7 and the second member of the hook, and then it enters and forms the remainder of the twisted body 4, and from the upper end of the latter it preferably leads into a coil 8, thence downward in a front arm 9, loosely through the forward end of the horizontal loop 7, and is bent to the rearin a clamping member 10, curved to oppose the curvature of and.

extending inward between the front members 6, thence outward again through the bottom members 5,and finally terminating at its lower end below the latter in a small knob or eye 11 to prevent articles from catching thereon.

The entire device is of a single piece of wire,

nickeled, japanned, painted, or otherwise or namented to suit the fancy of the manfacturer or user, and additions thereto may be made without departing from the spirit of my in vention.

In use two screws S S are passed through the eyes 2 3, and a staple H is passed astride the body l, both entering a suitable support or upright U, or the staple may be omitted, if preferred ,the screws alone sustaining the rack in proper position and with sufficient firmness. The lower end 11 is pressed to the rear, so that the front arm 9 moves within the horizontal loop 7, and the inwardly-curved clamp 10 passes through and somewhat deeply into the outwardly-curved front arms 6, and these members form an opening, and through the latter the shoestrings or other articles to be exhibited are passed laterally, after, which pressure on said lower end is withdrawn and the parts spring into normal position,tl1e front arms 6 remaining in place and the clamp 10 moving forwardagainst the rear sides of the strings being held therebetween. When it is desired to remove one or more of the strings supported by this device,it or they are grasped by the operator and pulled forcibly laterally, such action withdrawing them from the yielding clamping force of the rack, and the latter immedately adapts itself to the remaining articles displayed thereby.

What is claimed as new herein is The herein-described merchandise-exhibitor, the same comprising a single piece of wire having attaching means at its upper end, thence an upright body, thencea curved bottom and front forming a hook, and finally projecting forward in a loop, the hook and loop being each in two members spaced laterally, and a front arm extending from the upper end of the body, passing loosely through said loop, and formed into a rearwardly-bent clamping member passing twice through and standing between the members of said hook, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 2lst day of January, A. D. 1899.

ANTON T. PEFFER. 

